CA2276338C - Device for contactless transmission of electrical signals and/or energy - Google Patents
Device for contactless transmission of electrical signals and/or energy Download PDFInfo
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- CA2276338C CA2276338C CA002276338A CA2276338A CA2276338C CA 2276338 C CA2276338 C CA 2276338C CA 002276338 A CA002276338 A CA 002276338A CA 2276338 A CA2276338 A CA 2276338A CA 2276338 C CA2276338 C CA 2276338C
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B5/00—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
- H04B5/20—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems characterised by the transmission technique; characterised by the transmission medium
- H04B5/22—Capacitive coupling
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
- H01F38/00—Adaptations of transformers or inductances for specific applications or functions
- H01F38/14—Inductive couplings
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
- H01P1/00—Auxiliary devices
- H01P1/06—Movable joints, e.g. rotating joints
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
- H01P1/00—Auxiliary devices
- H01P1/06—Movable joints, e.g. rotating joints
- H01P1/062—Movable joints, e.g. rotating joints the relative movement being a rotation
- H01P1/066—Movable joints, e.g. rotating joints the relative movement being a rotation with an unlimited angle of rotation
- H01P1/067—Movable joints, e.g. rotating joints the relative movement being a rotation with an unlimited angle of rotation the energy being transmitted in only one line located on the axis of rotation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B5/00—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
- H01F38/00—Adaptations of transformers or inductances for specific applications or functions
- H01F38/14—Inductive couplings
- H01F2038/146—Inductive couplings in combination with capacitive coupling
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B5/00—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
- H04B5/70—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems specially adapted for specific purposes
- H04B5/72—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems specially adapted for specific purposes for local intradevice communication
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B5/00—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
- H04B5/70—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems specially adapted for specific purposes
- H04B5/79—Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems specially adapted for specific purposes for data transfer in combination with power transfer
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Near-Field Transmission Systems (AREA)
- Transmitters (AREA)
- Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
- Arrangements For Transmission Of Measured Signals (AREA)
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Abstract
What is described here is a device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals and/or energy between at least two parts mobile relative to each other, wherein on the parts between which signals and/or energy are to be transmitted a plurality of defined electromagnetic coupler elements is provided whose near field causes the non-contact transmission.
The inventive device excels itself by the provisions that the coupler elements on at least one part - form a conductor structure configured as cascade circuit ter-minated in a manner free from reflection, and - that each coupler element, independently of the other coupler elements on this part, is a resonator system having a resonance frequency higher than the highest frequency of the wide-band signals to be transmitted.
An alternative embodiment is characterised by the provision that each of the coupler elements provided on at least one part comprises at least one resonator which consists of a single element able to resonate per se and independently of the other coupler elements and has a resonance frequency approximately equal to the frequency of the signals to be transmitted, and - that the individual resonators are connected to each other via line terminated in a manner free from reflection.
The inventive device excels itself by the provisions that the coupler elements on at least one part - form a conductor structure configured as cascade circuit ter-minated in a manner free from reflection, and - that each coupler element, independently of the other coupler elements on this part, is a resonator system having a resonance frequency higher than the highest frequency of the wide-band signals to be transmitted.
An alternative embodiment is characterised by the provision that each of the coupler elements provided on at least one part comprises at least one resonator which consists of a single element able to resonate per se and independently of the other coupler elements and has a resonance frequency approximately equal to the frequency of the signals to be transmitted, and - that the individual resonators are connected to each other via line terminated in a manner free from reflection.
Description
DEVICE FOR CONTACTLESS TRANSMISSION OF
ELECTRICAL SIGNALS AND/OR ENERGY
Field of the invention The present invention relates to device for non-contact trans-mission of electrical signals and/or energy between at least two parts mobile relative to each other, wherein a plurality of defined electromagnetic coupler elements is provided on at least one part, which have a near field inducing the non-con-tact transmission.
Such devices are used for the transmission of electrical sig-nals or electrical energy, respectively, between two or more parts mobile relative to each other. This movement may be a ro-tating, a translational or a combined movement.
For the sake of easy understanding a distinction is not made in the present description between the transmission among mutually mobile units and a stationary unit and units mobile relative thereto because this is only a question of local relationship and does not take any influence on the operating mode of the inventive device. Equally, a further distinction is not made between the transmission of signals and the transmission of en-ergy because the operating mechanisms are identical.
Prior art In units adapted for a translational and particularly linear movement, such as hoisting and conveyor systems, and in ro-tatable units such as radar installations or computer tomo-graphs it is necessary to transmit electrical signals or enerqy between mutually mobile units or between one stationary unit and at least one other unit arranged for movement relative thereto.
Whenever the relative speed of the units is comparatively high, for instance, it is expedient to provide a non-contact trans-mission. Compared against a contacting transmission, e.g. by means of sliding contacts, a non-contact transmission presents additional advantages when high data rates are to be communi-cated in the transmission of digital signals or when large bandwidths are required for the transmission of analog signals:
In conventional (circular) slip rings the diameter of the slip ring limits the maximum frequency which can be transmitted.
This level is reached when the periphery of the Slip ring cor-responds to half the wavelength of the signals to be transmit -ted.
Devices for non-contact transmission of signals or electrical energy are known in the most different configurations. In this respect reference is made to the commonly known textbook by Meinke/Gundlach "Taschenbuch der Hochfrequenztechnik" [vademecum of High-Frequency Technology], Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1968, page 186 (Resonant Transmitters).
A device supported on this basis and serving for non-contact transmission of electrical signals and/or energy between at least two parts mobile relative to each other, from which the introductory clause of Patent Claims 1 or 3 starts out from, is known from the German Patent DE 42 36 340 C2. In the system for inductive transmission of energy in the range of medium fre-quencies from a primary coil disposed on a stator to a consumer equipped with at least one secondary coil, which is known from 3 PCT/DE 98l00512 that prior art document, the primary coil consists of series-connected coils arranged in groups, with one capacitor being connected in series per group. All the groups are connected each in parallel to a medium-frequency distributing line, with the impedances of each group of coils and the respective ca-pacitor being so dimensioned that in the event of an inductive coupling of one group to one of the mobile consumers the reso-nance condition is satisfied at least approximately for this group.
Even though that known device is very well suited for transmit-ting electrical energy, it is not appropriate for the wide-band transmission of electrical signals due to the fact that it op-erates as ResonanzUbertrager. Moreover, as a result of the three-dimensional arrangement of the coils, it cannot be em-ployed at operating frequencies in the MHz range and above.
This precludes an application in computer tomographs, for in-stance.
A device for the transmission of electrical signals between two parts which are mobile and particularly rotatable relative to each other along a path and to which a transmitter or a re-ceiver system is connected, and which is particularly intended for application in computer tomographs, is known from the Ger-man Patent DE 33 31 722 Al. That known device comprises coupler elements on each part, whereof each includes at least one elec-trode so that the signal will be capacitively transmitted via the respective opposite electrodes.
That device, which originates from the year 1983, entails, how-ever, also the disadvantage that it is not suitable for trans-mitting signals with a bandwidth which is required at present for computer tomographs, because reflections occur already at low frequencies on the coupler elements. Even though the use of separate amplifiers for each coupler element would be a remedy the use of a great number of amplifiers would result in very high costs.
Furthermore the structure via the open coupler elements results in a very high electromagnetic noise radiation.
The laid-open German Patent Application DE-OS 26 53 209 dis-closes a coaxial multiple rotating coupler for the transmission of high-frequency energy, wherein coupler elements in the form of capacitor plates are used as well, which are permanently en-gaged by 100 %. This structure results actually in a reflec-tion-free and hence wide-band termination.
On the other hand, the structure of the rotating coupler is complex and hence expensive, particularly when the system should have a wide diameter, e.g. of the size required in com-puter tomographs.
The German Patents DE 44 12 958 Al and DE 195 33 819 Al dis-close largely similar devices and methods for a communication at a high data rate, particularly in a computer tomograph sys-tem.
To this end, for instance in a computer tomograph,.electrical energy is coupled out from a transmission line by means of a coupler, with the line as such assuming the coupler function, i.e. produces the same effect as a leakage line in communica-tions engineering. In this respect reference is made to the aforementioned textbook by Meinke/Gundlach, page 304 (reference word: coupled lines).
These known devices do hence not comprise a plurality of defined coupler elements but merely a strip line. The disadvantage of such strip lines is the wide-band S~CT10,14 8 ~Ar .,~~.~r=5 r~.
v(W.:. ..
Cdp~p~~C y] k ,.~~~~~ ~~S 8 VOYpc C~ RT4fucAP
emission of high-frequency energy from the line serving as a coupler:
The lines have a length of up to 4 m, for instance in computer tomographs, and of a multiple thereof in conveyor systems.
Therefore it operates as a emitter with a very low lower limit frequency in the event of a slight mismatching already. Due to its extension it is moreover highly sensitive to external noise. This noise is received from the line and communicated to all the other units.
The shield described in the German Patent DE 195 33 819 Al re-sults only in a slight improvement. Instead of the attenuation by 55 dB at maximum, as described there, a wide-band attenua-tion by 10 dB with peaks of 20 dB has been determined only in tests.
Another disadvantage of these known methods and devices con-sists in the aspect that in the event that signals are coupled into the line by the units adapted for relative movement, only a little amount of energy can be transmitted. For improvement of the coupling provisions the surface of the line ought to be enlarged. But this results in a low line impedance and hence in an increased sensitivity to noise.
Brief description of the invention The present invention is based on the problem of providing a device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals and/or energy between at least two parts adapted for movement relative to each other, which will present a low responsiveness to noise at a large bandwidth or high possible data rates.
5a One inventive solution to this problem may provide a device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals or energy between at least two parts mobile relative to each other, wherein a plurality of defined electromagnetic coupler elements is provided on the parts between which signals or energy is to be communicated, with the near field of these coupler elements causing the non-contact transmission, wherein each of said coupler elements, which are provided on at least one part, comprises at least one resonator consisting of a single element able to resonate per se and independently of the other coupler elements, which has a resonance frequency approximately equal to the frequency of the signals to be transmitted, and wherein the individual resonators are sequentially connected to each other via line which is terminated in a manner free from reflection.
In the inventive approach defined above each of the cou-pler elements, which are provided on at least one part, con-tains at least one resonator which consists of a single element able to resonate per se and independently of the other coupler elements. The resonant frequency of the resonator or resona-tors, respectively, is approximately equal to the frequency of the signals to be transmitted. The individual resonators are interconnected via a line which is terminated in a reflection-free manner. It is thus possible to transmit the signals or the electrical energy to be transmitted, respectively, with a high efficiency at comparatively low losses due to emission. At the same time, the structure of the inventive device is a simple and hence low-cost design. The resonance of the individual resonators may be a serial or parallel resonance.
This provision minimises the interfering emission via the con-ductor structure.
The inventive solution includes various non-limiting but preferred conceivable resonator designs. One particularly preferred possibility, in addition to the resonant cavities, electric, ferromagnetic and/or piezoelectric resonators, is the application of line resonators because these are simple to design and hence low-cost and which are mainly easy to control.
These line resonators may, for instance, have a comb-shaped ar-rangement of conducting surfaces on an isolator, with the comb-shaped arrangement being terminated by a defined wave resistor so that, compared against prior art, a wider three-dimensional extension will be possible. This arrangement offers the addi-tional advantage that it is a simple and hence low-cost design which can be implemented on a "printed circuit board".
There the coupler element, e.g. in the form of a short line section, constitutes a resonator which has particularly expedi-ent coupling properties at its resonant frequency. Such resona-tors may also be line transformers which provide for impedance matching of the coupler means to the line system. For matching the bandwidth and the quality of resonator systems to the re-spective transmission project the resonators may be attenuated or may be resonators combined with each other, which are tuned to different resonant frequencies.
In another embodiment of the invention the coupler elements are designed as coupling lines capable of resonating. These are line segments which are not screened and exclusively serve the purpose of coupling.
Certain other exemplary embodiments may provide the device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals or energy between at least two parts adapted to be moved ~--elative to eac-n other, wherein a plurality of defined electromagnetic coupler elements is provided on the parts between which signals or energy are to be transmitted, with the near field of said coupler elements causing the non-contact transmission, wtiereiri said coupler elements on at leasz one part form a conductor structure configured as cascade circuit which is terminated in a manner free from reflection, and wherein each coupler element, independently of the other coupler elernents, is a resonance system having a resonance frequency higher than the highest frequency of the wideband signals to be transmitted.
In the above approach the coupler elements constitute a conductor structure configured as cascade circuit on at least 7a one part, which is provided with a reflection-free termination.
Moreover, each coupler element is a resonance system independent of the other coupler elements on that part, which has a resonance frequency higher than the highest frequency of the wide-band signals to be transmitted.
In the present invention a "resonance system" or the "capability to resonate" is to be understood to apply to a resonance which can be used for signal transmission or filtering, respectively.
Within the scope of the present invention a "cascade circuit"
is to be understood to apply to the general case of a circuit quadrupoles but not to a plain series or parallel circuitry.
One example of a cascade circuit is the case where the joining coupler element taps the voltage or the current on at least one dummy element of the preceding coupler element as input signal.
In particular, the system formed by the coupler elements may display a low-pass characteristic. The line system has hence conducting properties at low frequencies and presents a very high attenuation at high frequencies so that the inventive de-vice displays a very high resistance to noise. The term "low frequencies" is to be understood here as a frequency band us-able for the transmission of signals, which may be within the range up to several 100 MHz to GHz. What is essential of the invention here is the fact that the dimensioning enables the selection of a frequency band useful for the transmission, e.g.
between 0 and 300 MHz, whilst frequencies above this frequency band are strongly suppressed.
In any case it is preferred that the conductor structure in its entirety is not able to resonate. This means that the resona-tors - rather than the conductor structure - have a resonance frequency within the frequency band used for transmission.
For instance, a conductor structure with a length of 100 me-tres, which includes the resonators having a resonant frequency of 300 MHz, had a resonance at roughly 3 MHz as such. This resonance should not be used for the communication of informa-tion and is expediently suppressed.
This minimises the interfering emission via the conductor structure.
In both inventive solutions the parts mobile relative to each other are coupled by means of a plurality of defined electro-magnetic coupler elements which are connected to each other by means of a line or a conductor structure having a reflection-free termination, i.e. which has a defined and matched wave re-sistance. Thus the disadvantage of a direct influence on the line, which does exist in prior art, is avoided.
Hence the line system can, inter alia, be optimised as means for signal transmission and each of the coupler elements can be optimised separately as means for signal coupling. The line system may consist here of a single line or even of a plurality of inter-connected lines which may also be connected in corre-spondence with prior art.
A symmetrical structure of the system is preferred.
In the most general case coupling can be implemented by elec-tromagnetic fields and waves and particularly in an inductive and/or capacitive manner. In specific embodiments it is also possible to provide for coupling via merely electrical or mag-netic fields.
It is moreover preferred that each coupler element able to resonate consists of one element which contains at least one inductive element and one component producing a capacitive ef-fect.
In particular, each coupler element may consist of a single in-ductor and a single capacitor. This solution is particularly simple in engineering terms and requires only a low dimension-ing expenditure. In this case it is also possible to determine a specific type of coupling. In the embodiment implemented by means of capacitors the coupling is realised predominantly by electrical fields whilst in the embodiment using inductors, by contrast, it is implemented by magnetic fields. It is also pos-sible, of course, to use coupler elements including resonance circuits of a higher order in which two capacitors, for in-stance, are connected by two inductors connected in parallel.
The individual inductors of the different coupler elements of one part are preferably connected in series - which a single inductor is used per coupler element - so that the limit fre-quency of the low-pass system can be easily set to the desired frequency, particularly within the range from 100 to 10,000 MHz. The inductors connected in series hence form the conduct-ing structure themselves so that they do not require any dis-tributing lines as is the case in prior art.
It is furthermore an advantage for the aforementioned frequency range if a continuous and particularly a "straight" line forms the individual inductors.
In any case, the inductors or capacitors may be configured as structures of a printed circuit board so that a particularly simple and low-cost structure is achieved which moreover en-ables a simple matching with the respective geometry of the parts moving relative to each other.
This purpose is also served with the provision that.the printed circuit board is a flexible board because such a board can be easily formed into almost any shape whatsoever - particularly when it presents a specific geometry, e.g. slots. The use of a slotted printed circuit board is, by contrast, naturally not possible in the case of strip lines.
In the design of the inventive device with a printed circuit board it is moreover possible that the capacitors are config-ured as flat conducting elements on the (flexible) circuit board. The flat conducting elements may be connected to the continuous line via branch lines or joined directly to the line laterally. It is moreover possible that flat conducting ele-ments are provided on either side of the continuous line.
It is possible in particular to provide conducting structures including a ground surface, capacitors and/or inductors on ei-ther side of the printed circuit board.
It is, of course, also possible that the inductors and/or ca-pacitors are discrete elements. Even a combination of discrete elements and elements implemented on a printed circuit board is possible.' In another embodiment of the invention several coupler elements tuned to different frequency ranges are arranged in a close three-dimensional relationship so that a coupler structure is achieved which is tuned to these frequency ranges. With this provision both a wide-band transmission and a multi-channel transmission in several independent frequency bands is possi-ble. This furnishes a coupler structure which enables selective coupling in these predetermined frequency ranges. In an instal-lation, for instance, which operates in the frequency ranges of 100 MHz and 900 MHz, a combination of discrete resonant cir-cuits for the lower frequency band as well as of line resona-tors for the upper frequency band may be used. On account of such a combination an increased noise suppression can be achieved in the range between these two frequency bands.
In a further embodiment of the invention several coupler ele-ments are so combined with each other that a predetermined ra-diated field pattern will be obtained outside. This may be done in correspondence with the commonly known rules for the dimen-sioning of antennas and groups of emitters. The radiation of undesirable energy into particularly sensitive areas can hence be minimised.
The design in which the coupler elements are configured as dif-ferential coupler elements and in which a differential signal is applied to the coupler elements enables a signal transmis-sion with a particularly high resistance to noise.
To this end at least two coupler elements must be supplied with differential signals from two lines carrying differential sig-nals or via a symmetrical matching circuitry such as a balance transformer.
In the inventive device coupler elements able to resonate may be provided on all parts, which are matched with each other. It is moreover also possible that coupler elements capable of resonating are provided merely on one part and that conven-tional transmitters or receivers, respectively, are provided on the other parts as coupler elements. The transmitters or re-ceivers may comprise, for instance, coils, ferrite cores and/or capacitors.
Moreover, the conventional coupler elements may be configured as antennas (emitters) in correspondence with prior art. These antennas can be configured, for instance, as planar antennas with a strip-line design or as rod antennas or frame antennas.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the coupler ele-ments presenting the inventive design are arranged on the transmitter side and conventional coupler elements are disposed on the receiving side in the event of a preferred direction of signal flow. Such a preferred signal flow direction is in-volved, for instance, when exactly one transmitter and at least one receiver are provided or when a transmission quality as high as possible is demanded in precisely one direction. A com-bination along the path inventive coupler element - coupler element - line system - coupler element - inventive coupler element displays the lowest transmission quality. Here the cou-pling attenuations of the transition from the conventional cou-pler element to the inventive coupler element as well as the losses occur twice in the line system. The combination conven-tional coupler element - inventive coupler element - line sys-tem is better because in such a case the losses induced by the transition from the conventional coupler element to an inven-tive coupler element occur only once. Best, however, is the combination line system - inventive coupler element - conven-tional coupler element because in such a case the non-amplified signal merely increases the attenuation of the path coupler element -. The signal attenuated by this attenuating factor (e.g. 10 dB) can hence be amplified again directly in the con-ventional coupler element. In the line system the original sig-nal is still carried at the high level. Along the reverse sig-nal path (conventional coupler element - inventive coupler ele-ment - line system) the attenuated signal is guided in the line system where it may be interfered with more easily by other signals on account of its lower level. This consideration leads to the conclusion that the best quality in transmission of a signal can be achieved along the path line system - inventive coupler element - conventional coupler element.
In the inventive device it is moreover expedient to. shield line systems serving to feed the signals or the energy to be trans-mitted or to transmit the transmitted signals or the energy, and to design them hence in a form de-coupled from the coupler elements so that the emission via the feeder systems and the reception of noise energy will be minimised. In correspondence with the invention one embodiment of the device is so suffi-cient that the coupler elements account for the predominant share in the coupling function. A low remaining coupling of the mobile coupler means with the line system is normally not det-rimental. And yet, in certain cases, it may be sensible to shield the line completely. This applies particularly when only a narrow-band coupling into the line is desired and high noise levels occur within a wide band in the environment.
It is moreover possible to provide at.least one activator unit which activate the respective coupler element on the approached part only when the coupler element of a relatively moved part approaches the respective coupler element.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention the operat-ing range of the coupler elements is matched with the respec-tive transmission task. In the event of resonators used as cou-pler elements one can dimension them in such a way that they reach their rated resonance frequency only when coupler ele-ments with certain dielectric or magnetic properties are ap-proaching which are provided on a relatively moving part. With this provision the advantage is achieved that energy is re-leased only when these coupler elements are approaching.
When the coupler elements are further remote, for instance in the event of a resonator, the resonator is de-tuned, does not radiate any energy and does not load the line system. A de-tuned resonator is equally not able to couple energy into the line system at its operating frequency. Moreover, the coupler elements may be so designed that they can be tuned to different operating ranges when different coupler means are approaching.
For instance, coupler elements provided on a relatively moving part, which have different relative permittivities, are suit-able to tune the coupler elements to different operating fre-quencies.
In a further expedient embodiment of the invention the coupler elements comprise an activator means which determines the ap-proach of a coupler means and activates the respective coupler element in the event of approach.
In another embodiment of the invention the coupler elements are coupled to the line system by additional active or passive com-ponents. Such components may be semiconductors in the form of switches or even amplifiers which control the signal flow and/or raise the signal level. Passive components for coupling may be directional couplers which permit the signal flow into the coupler elements, e.g. in the case of unidirectional trans-mission from the line system, but keep outside noise, which is coupled in by the coupler elements, away form the line system.
This applies also in the case that coupler elements are config-ured as directional couplers. For de-coupling non-reciprocal components such as circulators may be employed, too, of course.
In a further embodiment of the invention different types of coupler elements are combined with each other. For instance, at one point of the system a wide-band transmission with capaci-tive coupler elements may be required whilst at another point in a noise-troubled environment a narrow-band transmission with resonators is necessary.
It is moreover possible that the coupler elements are shielded by a shield of electrically conductive material. This shield may comprise the coupler elements with or even without the line system or parts thereof. The shield produces its best effect when it encompasses the coupler elements as far as possible.
An inductive or capacitive transmitter means supplementing a resonant circuit displays its optimum transmission characteris-tics exclusively at the point of the resonant frequency. In ac-cordance with the present invention the circuit is hence sup-plemented to form a power oscillator in which the resonant cir-cuit used for transmission is the frequency-determining circuit element. It is irrelevant in such a configuration whether the resonant circuit of the transmitter element is a series or a parallel circuit. It can also be configured with further addi-tional dummy elements so as to form a multi-circuit system able to resonate. What is essential is the fact that the transmis-sion system is so designed that it can be excited to oscillate by combined coupling for oscillation on at least one resonant frequency of the system at which transmission of energy is pos-sible.
The arrangement consists of an amplifying element which sup-plies the resonant transmitter means. A signalling means deter-mines a signal which contains at least one phase information, based on currents and voltages of the resonance elements, and signals this information to the amplifying element. For the achievement of an oscillatory structure a switching or amplify-ing component is required in this arrangement which provides for an amplification such that the resonance condition (cf.
Tietze, Schenk: "Halbleiterschaltungstechnik" (semiconcluctor technology], Springer-Verlag, 10th edition, p. 459) will be satisfied. The aspect whether the switching or amplifying com-ponent is designed here as a mere semiconductor switch or as a linear amplifying element does not take any influence on the function of the inventive arrangement. Therefore a distinction will not be made in the further text between a switch and an amplifier.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention the signalling means comprises a power tap which couples out a pre-determined percentage of the resonance current in the event of a series resonance. This power tap may be a current meter re-sistor, a power transformer or a Hall element. The resonance current can equally be measured as voltage drop on one of the resonant elements.
In a further expedient embodiment of the invention the signal-ling means comprises components for coupling a predetermined share of the voltages out which are applied to the parallel 17 PCT/DE MAMt 2 resonant circuit, in the event of parallel resonance. These voltages can also be determined indirectly via the current flowing through these elements.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention the signal-ling means comprises components for determining the combination of a predetermined percentage of at lest one parallel resonance voltage or a predetermined share of at least one series reso-nance current in the case of a multi-circuit resonance system_ The signalling means can be designed in this case such that the analysis will be performed by a simple addition, free from phase errors, of these magnitudes. With this provision it is possible to have the circuit operate at series or parallel resonance, depending on the respective load case. As an alter-native also a reversing switch is possible which recognises whether a series or a parallel resonance is involved and which determines a share of the resonance voltage or the resonance current, respectively, in correspondence therewith.
In a further expedient embodiment of the invention the signal-ling means comprises filter elements for a pre-selection be-tween the collection of the resonance voltage or the resonance current.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the sig-nalling means comprises a secondary oscillator which facili-tates the commencement of oscillation of the system when the supply voltage is turned on. It is common that upon turn-on of the supply voltage an oscillator begins to oscillate from the noise condition. To ensure a reliable and rapid start of the oscillation such an oscillator can also receive a starting sig-nal at a predetermined frequency. When this frequency is se-lected in the vicinity of he desired operating frequency the oscillation commences particularly rapidly. In the case of sev-eral possible resonances, too, the oscillation can take place l8 PCTfDE 98100512 at the desired resonance frequency when the starting signal is determined. If in such a case the oscillator started to oscil -late from the noise condition it may be that the power oscilla-tor also starts to oscillate to undesirable resonance frequen-cies.
In another expedient embodiment of the invention a further ana-lyser unit is provided which uses the operating frequency of the circuit as such for determining the spacing between the parts movable relative to each other. With the operating fre-quency varying as a function of the mutually mobile elements in the case of an inductive transmission the corresponding varia-tion of the distance can be easily determined on the basis of the operating frequency.
Brief description of the draKinQs The invention will be described in more details in the follow-ing with reference to the drawing wherein:
Figs. lato lc show the fundamental structure of inventive de-vices for non-contact transmission of electrical sig-nals and/or energy;
Fig. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention which comprises a capacitive coupling system;
Fig. 3 shows a variant of the embodiment illustrated in Fig.
2, which comprises a balanced system with shielding;
Fig. 4 is a view of a second embodiment with an inductive coupling system;
Fig. 5 illustrates an inventive device on a rotary trans-former;
Figs. 6a and 6b show a comparison between a prior art device and an inventive device in differential signal transmis-sion;
Figs. 7aand b are illustrations for explanation of the low-pass characteristic; and Figs. 8to 10 illustrate various examples of resonance cou-pling.
Description of embodiments In the following figures the same reference numerals have been used to denote identical elements or elements producing the same effects so that partly a repeated discussion may be omit-ted here.
Figs. la to lc show various embodiments of the inventive device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals and/or en-ergy, with the transmitter only being represented in the Fig-ures, rather than the receiver as well.
A signal source S is connected via a conductor structure 2 to coupler elements C or L, respectively, and are furthermore ter-minated by a surge impedance Zo in a manner free from reflec-tion. When a unit of the inventive structure is used as re-ceiver the transmitted signal is tapped at the position of the signal source S. The arrangements illustrated here present a symmetrical or balanced configuration because here a particu-larly expedient embodiment is involved. Unbalanced or non-sym-metrical embodiments are, of course, conceivable as well.
Fig. la shows an example of capacitive coupling; in this case flat conducting elements C, which induce the capacitive cou-pling, are connected to a continuous conductor 2 via a branch line or directly as in the embodiment illustrated here.
The coupler means 4 is designed here as a balanced coupler means which surrounds the printed circuit board 1 in a U-shaped configuration, on which the conductor structures and the cou-pler means are arranged. Furthermore, a shielding 6 is provided to surround the entire arrangement. The carrier 1, which may be a printed circuit board again, is fastened on the shield 6 by means of isolators 5 and 15.
Figure 4 is a view of a second embodiment of the invention wherein an inductive coupling is realised. On a carrier 1, which may also be provided with an electrically conductive layer on the rear side, a conductor structure 2 is provided, too, which connects inductive coupler elements 3a to 3c. The coupler elements 3a to 3c are configured here in the manner of a conductor loop. The reference numeral 4 denotes again a cou-pler means of the conventional type.
The inventive device of which an exemplary description has been given above with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 presents a number of advantages as will be explained in more details below, with reference being made to Figs. 5 to 7.
Fig. 5 shows an embodiment wherein the inventive device is so configured that it may be mounted on a rotary transformer, for instance. The conductor structure 2 having the inventive design with capacitive elements 3 (and/or inductive elements) may be made of a plane film or foil or the printed circuit board 1 in which slots are produced so as to allow for bending to small radii. This were impossible with a strip line as it is common in prior art.
Moreover, the inventive device presents the advantage that with a bent arrangement and with a differential signal coupling only slightly different line lengths are obtained which lead to dif-ferences in delay times and hence in signal noise and undesir-able radiation. The inventive device is thus particularly well suitable for the transmission of differential signals, which entails the further advantage that the radiation to the outside is minimised due to the fields in the outside space which com-pensate each other practically almost completely.
Fig. 6 shows a comparison between conventional strip lines SL
designed as differential structure (figure section a) and an inventive device (figure section b).
As becomes apparent from Figures 6a and 6b the lines 2 and 12 with coupler elements 3 and 13 are disposed very close to each other in the case of an inventive device so that the difference of their radii rl and rZis very small and hence the difference in delay times becomes comparatively great.
Fig. 7a shows a simplified electrical equivalent circuit dia-gram of an inventive device. As is shown in Fig. 7a, the inven-tive device presents a low-pass characteristic. Thus the inven-tive device entails the advantage of a high resistance to noise because any noise above the threshold frequency will not be passed on and can hence neither be received nor emitted.
Fig. 7b is an exemplary illustration of the computed frequency response of an inventive device, wherein the frequency is plot-ted (in MHz) along the abscissa and the received signal (in V) is plotted on the ordinate. As is apparent here the inventive device presents a practically constant frequency response be-tween 1 MHz and almost 300 MHz, which steeply drops to "zero"
at roughly 300 MHz in the illustrated embodiment. Threshold frequencies other than 300 MHz - be they higher or lower - can, of course, be implemented as well.
Fig. 8 is an illustration of an inventive arrangement with resonance coupling, which consists of an inductive or capaci-tive coupler element 83, respectively, which supplies a con-sumer 84. This coupler element is supplemented with at least one dummy element 82 to form a structure able to resonate. The signalling means 85 generates a regenerative coupling signal from resonance currents or voltages at the coupler element or at the supplementing dummy elements, which signal has such an amplitude and such a phase that the switching or amplifying element 81, together with the dummy elements 82 and 83 joining it, satisfies the condition of oscillation.
Fig. 9 is an exemplary illustration of an arrangement in corre-spondence with the invention for the case of a capacitive transmission means. The capacitive coupler element 93 supplies the consumer 94. It is supplemented by the inductor 92 for forming a structure capable of resonating. In this case the signalling means consists of a current meter resistor 95 which transmits a signal proportional to the series resonance current to the switching or amplifying component 91 by inductance and capacitance.
Fig. 10 shows an example of a particularly simple embodiment of an inventive system in the case of parallel resonance on an in-ductive coupler element. In this case the inductive coupler element 103 supplies a consumer 104. The inductor is supple-mented by the capacitor 102 so as to form a parallel resonance circuit. This signalling means consists here of a voltage di-vider with the two resistors 105 and 106, which taps a prede-termined share of the parallel resonance voltage by inductance and capacitance and passes them on to the switching or amplify-ing component, respectively.
The present invention has so far been described by exemplary embodiments without any restriction of the general inventive idea and general applicability. In particular, it is possible to employ the invention not only for rotary transformers such as in computer tomographs, radar towers etc. but also for transformers adapted for linear movement such as those required on cranes etc. Moreover, the invention may be used in trans-formers performing a composite movement.
ELECTRICAL SIGNALS AND/OR ENERGY
Field of the invention The present invention relates to device for non-contact trans-mission of electrical signals and/or energy between at least two parts mobile relative to each other, wherein a plurality of defined electromagnetic coupler elements is provided on at least one part, which have a near field inducing the non-con-tact transmission.
Such devices are used for the transmission of electrical sig-nals or electrical energy, respectively, between two or more parts mobile relative to each other. This movement may be a ro-tating, a translational or a combined movement.
For the sake of easy understanding a distinction is not made in the present description between the transmission among mutually mobile units and a stationary unit and units mobile relative thereto because this is only a question of local relationship and does not take any influence on the operating mode of the inventive device. Equally, a further distinction is not made between the transmission of signals and the transmission of en-ergy because the operating mechanisms are identical.
Prior art In units adapted for a translational and particularly linear movement, such as hoisting and conveyor systems, and in ro-tatable units such as radar installations or computer tomo-graphs it is necessary to transmit electrical signals or enerqy between mutually mobile units or between one stationary unit and at least one other unit arranged for movement relative thereto.
Whenever the relative speed of the units is comparatively high, for instance, it is expedient to provide a non-contact trans-mission. Compared against a contacting transmission, e.g. by means of sliding contacts, a non-contact transmission presents additional advantages when high data rates are to be communi-cated in the transmission of digital signals or when large bandwidths are required for the transmission of analog signals:
In conventional (circular) slip rings the diameter of the slip ring limits the maximum frequency which can be transmitted.
This level is reached when the periphery of the Slip ring cor-responds to half the wavelength of the signals to be transmit -ted.
Devices for non-contact transmission of signals or electrical energy are known in the most different configurations. In this respect reference is made to the commonly known textbook by Meinke/Gundlach "Taschenbuch der Hochfrequenztechnik" [vademecum of High-Frequency Technology], Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1968, page 186 (Resonant Transmitters).
A device supported on this basis and serving for non-contact transmission of electrical signals and/or energy between at least two parts mobile relative to each other, from which the introductory clause of Patent Claims 1 or 3 starts out from, is known from the German Patent DE 42 36 340 C2. In the system for inductive transmission of energy in the range of medium fre-quencies from a primary coil disposed on a stator to a consumer equipped with at least one secondary coil, which is known from 3 PCT/DE 98l00512 that prior art document, the primary coil consists of series-connected coils arranged in groups, with one capacitor being connected in series per group. All the groups are connected each in parallel to a medium-frequency distributing line, with the impedances of each group of coils and the respective ca-pacitor being so dimensioned that in the event of an inductive coupling of one group to one of the mobile consumers the reso-nance condition is satisfied at least approximately for this group.
Even though that known device is very well suited for transmit-ting electrical energy, it is not appropriate for the wide-band transmission of electrical signals due to the fact that it op-erates as ResonanzUbertrager. Moreover, as a result of the three-dimensional arrangement of the coils, it cannot be em-ployed at operating frequencies in the MHz range and above.
This precludes an application in computer tomographs, for in-stance.
A device for the transmission of electrical signals between two parts which are mobile and particularly rotatable relative to each other along a path and to which a transmitter or a re-ceiver system is connected, and which is particularly intended for application in computer tomographs, is known from the Ger-man Patent DE 33 31 722 Al. That known device comprises coupler elements on each part, whereof each includes at least one elec-trode so that the signal will be capacitively transmitted via the respective opposite electrodes.
That device, which originates from the year 1983, entails, how-ever, also the disadvantage that it is not suitable for trans-mitting signals with a bandwidth which is required at present for computer tomographs, because reflections occur already at low frequencies on the coupler elements. Even though the use of separate amplifiers for each coupler element would be a remedy the use of a great number of amplifiers would result in very high costs.
Furthermore the structure via the open coupler elements results in a very high electromagnetic noise radiation.
The laid-open German Patent Application DE-OS 26 53 209 dis-closes a coaxial multiple rotating coupler for the transmission of high-frequency energy, wherein coupler elements in the form of capacitor plates are used as well, which are permanently en-gaged by 100 %. This structure results actually in a reflec-tion-free and hence wide-band termination.
On the other hand, the structure of the rotating coupler is complex and hence expensive, particularly when the system should have a wide diameter, e.g. of the size required in com-puter tomographs.
The German Patents DE 44 12 958 Al and DE 195 33 819 Al dis-close largely similar devices and methods for a communication at a high data rate, particularly in a computer tomograph sys-tem.
To this end, for instance in a computer tomograph,.electrical energy is coupled out from a transmission line by means of a coupler, with the line as such assuming the coupler function, i.e. produces the same effect as a leakage line in communica-tions engineering. In this respect reference is made to the aforementioned textbook by Meinke/Gundlach, page 304 (reference word: coupled lines).
These known devices do hence not comprise a plurality of defined coupler elements but merely a strip line. The disadvantage of such strip lines is the wide-band S~CT10,14 8 ~Ar .,~~.~r=5 r~.
v(W.:. ..
Cdp~p~~C y] k ,.~~~~~ ~~S 8 VOYpc C~ RT4fucAP
emission of high-frequency energy from the line serving as a coupler:
The lines have a length of up to 4 m, for instance in computer tomographs, and of a multiple thereof in conveyor systems.
Therefore it operates as a emitter with a very low lower limit frequency in the event of a slight mismatching already. Due to its extension it is moreover highly sensitive to external noise. This noise is received from the line and communicated to all the other units.
The shield described in the German Patent DE 195 33 819 Al re-sults only in a slight improvement. Instead of the attenuation by 55 dB at maximum, as described there, a wide-band attenua-tion by 10 dB with peaks of 20 dB has been determined only in tests.
Another disadvantage of these known methods and devices con-sists in the aspect that in the event that signals are coupled into the line by the units adapted for relative movement, only a little amount of energy can be transmitted. For improvement of the coupling provisions the surface of the line ought to be enlarged. But this results in a low line impedance and hence in an increased sensitivity to noise.
Brief description of the invention The present invention is based on the problem of providing a device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals and/or energy between at least two parts adapted for movement relative to each other, which will present a low responsiveness to noise at a large bandwidth or high possible data rates.
5a One inventive solution to this problem may provide a device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals or energy between at least two parts mobile relative to each other, wherein a plurality of defined electromagnetic coupler elements is provided on the parts between which signals or energy is to be communicated, with the near field of these coupler elements causing the non-contact transmission, wherein each of said coupler elements, which are provided on at least one part, comprises at least one resonator consisting of a single element able to resonate per se and independently of the other coupler elements, which has a resonance frequency approximately equal to the frequency of the signals to be transmitted, and wherein the individual resonators are sequentially connected to each other via line which is terminated in a manner free from reflection.
In the inventive approach defined above each of the cou-pler elements, which are provided on at least one part, con-tains at least one resonator which consists of a single element able to resonate per se and independently of the other coupler elements. The resonant frequency of the resonator or resona-tors, respectively, is approximately equal to the frequency of the signals to be transmitted. The individual resonators are interconnected via a line which is terminated in a reflection-free manner. It is thus possible to transmit the signals or the electrical energy to be transmitted, respectively, with a high efficiency at comparatively low losses due to emission. At the same time, the structure of the inventive device is a simple and hence low-cost design. The resonance of the individual resonators may be a serial or parallel resonance.
This provision minimises the interfering emission via the con-ductor structure.
The inventive solution includes various non-limiting but preferred conceivable resonator designs. One particularly preferred possibility, in addition to the resonant cavities, electric, ferromagnetic and/or piezoelectric resonators, is the application of line resonators because these are simple to design and hence low-cost and which are mainly easy to control.
These line resonators may, for instance, have a comb-shaped ar-rangement of conducting surfaces on an isolator, with the comb-shaped arrangement being terminated by a defined wave resistor so that, compared against prior art, a wider three-dimensional extension will be possible. This arrangement offers the addi-tional advantage that it is a simple and hence low-cost design which can be implemented on a "printed circuit board".
There the coupler element, e.g. in the form of a short line section, constitutes a resonator which has particularly expedi-ent coupling properties at its resonant frequency. Such resona-tors may also be line transformers which provide for impedance matching of the coupler means to the line system. For matching the bandwidth and the quality of resonator systems to the re-spective transmission project the resonators may be attenuated or may be resonators combined with each other, which are tuned to different resonant frequencies.
In another embodiment of the invention the coupler elements are designed as coupling lines capable of resonating. These are line segments which are not screened and exclusively serve the purpose of coupling.
Certain other exemplary embodiments may provide the device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals or energy between at least two parts adapted to be moved ~--elative to eac-n other, wherein a plurality of defined electromagnetic coupler elements is provided on the parts between which signals or energy are to be transmitted, with the near field of said coupler elements causing the non-contact transmission, wtiereiri said coupler elements on at leasz one part form a conductor structure configured as cascade circuit which is terminated in a manner free from reflection, and wherein each coupler element, independently of the other coupler elernents, is a resonance system having a resonance frequency higher than the highest frequency of the wideband signals to be transmitted.
In the above approach the coupler elements constitute a conductor structure configured as cascade circuit on at least 7a one part, which is provided with a reflection-free termination.
Moreover, each coupler element is a resonance system independent of the other coupler elements on that part, which has a resonance frequency higher than the highest frequency of the wide-band signals to be transmitted.
In the present invention a "resonance system" or the "capability to resonate" is to be understood to apply to a resonance which can be used for signal transmission or filtering, respectively.
Within the scope of the present invention a "cascade circuit"
is to be understood to apply to the general case of a circuit quadrupoles but not to a plain series or parallel circuitry.
One example of a cascade circuit is the case where the joining coupler element taps the voltage or the current on at least one dummy element of the preceding coupler element as input signal.
In particular, the system formed by the coupler elements may display a low-pass characteristic. The line system has hence conducting properties at low frequencies and presents a very high attenuation at high frequencies so that the inventive de-vice displays a very high resistance to noise. The term "low frequencies" is to be understood here as a frequency band us-able for the transmission of signals, which may be within the range up to several 100 MHz to GHz. What is essential of the invention here is the fact that the dimensioning enables the selection of a frequency band useful for the transmission, e.g.
between 0 and 300 MHz, whilst frequencies above this frequency band are strongly suppressed.
In any case it is preferred that the conductor structure in its entirety is not able to resonate. This means that the resona-tors - rather than the conductor structure - have a resonance frequency within the frequency band used for transmission.
For instance, a conductor structure with a length of 100 me-tres, which includes the resonators having a resonant frequency of 300 MHz, had a resonance at roughly 3 MHz as such. This resonance should not be used for the communication of informa-tion and is expediently suppressed.
This minimises the interfering emission via the conductor structure.
In both inventive solutions the parts mobile relative to each other are coupled by means of a plurality of defined electro-magnetic coupler elements which are connected to each other by means of a line or a conductor structure having a reflection-free termination, i.e. which has a defined and matched wave re-sistance. Thus the disadvantage of a direct influence on the line, which does exist in prior art, is avoided.
Hence the line system can, inter alia, be optimised as means for signal transmission and each of the coupler elements can be optimised separately as means for signal coupling. The line system may consist here of a single line or even of a plurality of inter-connected lines which may also be connected in corre-spondence with prior art.
A symmetrical structure of the system is preferred.
In the most general case coupling can be implemented by elec-tromagnetic fields and waves and particularly in an inductive and/or capacitive manner. In specific embodiments it is also possible to provide for coupling via merely electrical or mag-netic fields.
It is moreover preferred that each coupler element able to resonate consists of one element which contains at least one inductive element and one component producing a capacitive ef-fect.
In particular, each coupler element may consist of a single in-ductor and a single capacitor. This solution is particularly simple in engineering terms and requires only a low dimension-ing expenditure. In this case it is also possible to determine a specific type of coupling. In the embodiment implemented by means of capacitors the coupling is realised predominantly by electrical fields whilst in the embodiment using inductors, by contrast, it is implemented by magnetic fields. It is also pos-sible, of course, to use coupler elements including resonance circuits of a higher order in which two capacitors, for in-stance, are connected by two inductors connected in parallel.
The individual inductors of the different coupler elements of one part are preferably connected in series - which a single inductor is used per coupler element - so that the limit fre-quency of the low-pass system can be easily set to the desired frequency, particularly within the range from 100 to 10,000 MHz. The inductors connected in series hence form the conduct-ing structure themselves so that they do not require any dis-tributing lines as is the case in prior art.
It is furthermore an advantage for the aforementioned frequency range if a continuous and particularly a "straight" line forms the individual inductors.
In any case, the inductors or capacitors may be configured as structures of a printed circuit board so that a particularly simple and low-cost structure is achieved which moreover en-ables a simple matching with the respective geometry of the parts moving relative to each other.
This purpose is also served with the provision that.the printed circuit board is a flexible board because such a board can be easily formed into almost any shape whatsoever - particularly when it presents a specific geometry, e.g. slots. The use of a slotted printed circuit board is, by contrast, naturally not possible in the case of strip lines.
In the design of the inventive device with a printed circuit board it is moreover possible that the capacitors are config-ured as flat conducting elements on the (flexible) circuit board. The flat conducting elements may be connected to the continuous line via branch lines or joined directly to the line laterally. It is moreover possible that flat conducting ele-ments are provided on either side of the continuous line.
It is possible in particular to provide conducting structures including a ground surface, capacitors and/or inductors on ei-ther side of the printed circuit board.
It is, of course, also possible that the inductors and/or ca-pacitors are discrete elements. Even a combination of discrete elements and elements implemented on a printed circuit board is possible.' In another embodiment of the invention several coupler elements tuned to different frequency ranges are arranged in a close three-dimensional relationship so that a coupler structure is achieved which is tuned to these frequency ranges. With this provision both a wide-band transmission and a multi-channel transmission in several independent frequency bands is possi-ble. This furnishes a coupler structure which enables selective coupling in these predetermined frequency ranges. In an instal-lation, for instance, which operates in the frequency ranges of 100 MHz and 900 MHz, a combination of discrete resonant cir-cuits for the lower frequency band as well as of line resona-tors for the upper frequency band may be used. On account of such a combination an increased noise suppression can be achieved in the range between these two frequency bands.
In a further embodiment of the invention several coupler ele-ments are so combined with each other that a predetermined ra-diated field pattern will be obtained outside. This may be done in correspondence with the commonly known rules for the dimen-sioning of antennas and groups of emitters. The radiation of undesirable energy into particularly sensitive areas can hence be minimised.
The design in which the coupler elements are configured as dif-ferential coupler elements and in which a differential signal is applied to the coupler elements enables a signal transmis-sion with a particularly high resistance to noise.
To this end at least two coupler elements must be supplied with differential signals from two lines carrying differential sig-nals or via a symmetrical matching circuitry such as a balance transformer.
In the inventive device coupler elements able to resonate may be provided on all parts, which are matched with each other. It is moreover also possible that coupler elements capable of resonating are provided merely on one part and that conven-tional transmitters or receivers, respectively, are provided on the other parts as coupler elements. The transmitters or re-ceivers may comprise, for instance, coils, ferrite cores and/or capacitors.
Moreover, the conventional coupler elements may be configured as antennas (emitters) in correspondence with prior art. These antennas can be configured, for instance, as planar antennas with a strip-line design or as rod antennas or frame antennas.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the coupler ele-ments presenting the inventive design are arranged on the transmitter side and conventional coupler elements are disposed on the receiving side in the event of a preferred direction of signal flow. Such a preferred signal flow direction is in-volved, for instance, when exactly one transmitter and at least one receiver are provided or when a transmission quality as high as possible is demanded in precisely one direction. A com-bination along the path inventive coupler element - coupler element - line system - coupler element - inventive coupler element displays the lowest transmission quality. Here the cou-pling attenuations of the transition from the conventional cou-pler element to the inventive coupler element as well as the losses occur twice in the line system. The combination conven-tional coupler element - inventive coupler element - line sys-tem is better because in such a case the losses induced by the transition from the conventional coupler element to an inven-tive coupler element occur only once. Best, however, is the combination line system - inventive coupler element - conven-tional coupler element because in such a case the non-amplified signal merely increases the attenuation of the path coupler element -. The signal attenuated by this attenuating factor (e.g. 10 dB) can hence be amplified again directly in the con-ventional coupler element. In the line system the original sig-nal is still carried at the high level. Along the reverse sig-nal path (conventional coupler element - inventive coupler ele-ment - line system) the attenuated signal is guided in the line system where it may be interfered with more easily by other signals on account of its lower level. This consideration leads to the conclusion that the best quality in transmission of a signal can be achieved along the path line system - inventive coupler element - conventional coupler element.
In the inventive device it is moreover expedient to. shield line systems serving to feed the signals or the energy to be trans-mitted or to transmit the transmitted signals or the energy, and to design them hence in a form de-coupled from the coupler elements so that the emission via the feeder systems and the reception of noise energy will be minimised. In correspondence with the invention one embodiment of the device is so suffi-cient that the coupler elements account for the predominant share in the coupling function. A low remaining coupling of the mobile coupler means with the line system is normally not det-rimental. And yet, in certain cases, it may be sensible to shield the line completely. This applies particularly when only a narrow-band coupling into the line is desired and high noise levels occur within a wide band in the environment.
It is moreover possible to provide at.least one activator unit which activate the respective coupler element on the approached part only when the coupler element of a relatively moved part approaches the respective coupler element.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention the operat-ing range of the coupler elements is matched with the respec-tive transmission task. In the event of resonators used as cou-pler elements one can dimension them in such a way that they reach their rated resonance frequency only when coupler ele-ments with certain dielectric or magnetic properties are ap-proaching which are provided on a relatively moving part. With this provision the advantage is achieved that energy is re-leased only when these coupler elements are approaching.
When the coupler elements are further remote, for instance in the event of a resonator, the resonator is de-tuned, does not radiate any energy and does not load the line system. A de-tuned resonator is equally not able to couple energy into the line system at its operating frequency. Moreover, the coupler elements may be so designed that they can be tuned to different operating ranges when different coupler means are approaching.
For instance, coupler elements provided on a relatively moving part, which have different relative permittivities, are suit-able to tune the coupler elements to different operating fre-quencies.
In a further expedient embodiment of the invention the coupler elements comprise an activator means which determines the ap-proach of a coupler means and activates the respective coupler element in the event of approach.
In another embodiment of the invention the coupler elements are coupled to the line system by additional active or passive com-ponents. Such components may be semiconductors in the form of switches or even amplifiers which control the signal flow and/or raise the signal level. Passive components for coupling may be directional couplers which permit the signal flow into the coupler elements, e.g. in the case of unidirectional trans-mission from the line system, but keep outside noise, which is coupled in by the coupler elements, away form the line system.
This applies also in the case that coupler elements are config-ured as directional couplers. For de-coupling non-reciprocal components such as circulators may be employed, too, of course.
In a further embodiment of the invention different types of coupler elements are combined with each other. For instance, at one point of the system a wide-band transmission with capaci-tive coupler elements may be required whilst at another point in a noise-troubled environment a narrow-band transmission with resonators is necessary.
It is moreover possible that the coupler elements are shielded by a shield of electrically conductive material. This shield may comprise the coupler elements with or even without the line system or parts thereof. The shield produces its best effect when it encompasses the coupler elements as far as possible.
An inductive or capacitive transmitter means supplementing a resonant circuit displays its optimum transmission characteris-tics exclusively at the point of the resonant frequency. In ac-cordance with the present invention the circuit is hence sup-plemented to form a power oscillator in which the resonant cir-cuit used for transmission is the frequency-determining circuit element. It is irrelevant in such a configuration whether the resonant circuit of the transmitter element is a series or a parallel circuit. It can also be configured with further addi-tional dummy elements so as to form a multi-circuit system able to resonate. What is essential is the fact that the transmis-sion system is so designed that it can be excited to oscillate by combined coupling for oscillation on at least one resonant frequency of the system at which transmission of energy is pos-sible.
The arrangement consists of an amplifying element which sup-plies the resonant transmitter means. A signalling means deter-mines a signal which contains at least one phase information, based on currents and voltages of the resonance elements, and signals this information to the amplifying element. For the achievement of an oscillatory structure a switching or amplify-ing component is required in this arrangement which provides for an amplification such that the resonance condition (cf.
Tietze, Schenk: "Halbleiterschaltungstechnik" (semiconcluctor technology], Springer-Verlag, 10th edition, p. 459) will be satisfied. The aspect whether the switching or amplifying com-ponent is designed here as a mere semiconductor switch or as a linear amplifying element does not take any influence on the function of the inventive arrangement. Therefore a distinction will not be made in the further text between a switch and an amplifier.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention the signalling means comprises a power tap which couples out a pre-determined percentage of the resonance current in the event of a series resonance. This power tap may be a current meter re-sistor, a power transformer or a Hall element. The resonance current can equally be measured as voltage drop on one of the resonant elements.
In a further expedient embodiment of the invention the signal-ling means comprises components for coupling a predetermined share of the voltages out which are applied to the parallel 17 PCT/DE MAMt 2 resonant circuit, in the event of parallel resonance. These voltages can also be determined indirectly via the current flowing through these elements.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention the signal-ling means comprises components for determining the combination of a predetermined percentage of at lest one parallel resonance voltage or a predetermined share of at least one series reso-nance current in the case of a multi-circuit resonance system_ The signalling means can be designed in this case such that the analysis will be performed by a simple addition, free from phase errors, of these magnitudes. With this provision it is possible to have the circuit operate at series or parallel resonance, depending on the respective load case. As an alter-native also a reversing switch is possible which recognises whether a series or a parallel resonance is involved and which determines a share of the resonance voltage or the resonance current, respectively, in correspondence therewith.
In a further expedient embodiment of the invention the signal-ling means comprises filter elements for a pre-selection be-tween the collection of the resonance voltage or the resonance current.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the sig-nalling means comprises a secondary oscillator which facili-tates the commencement of oscillation of the system when the supply voltage is turned on. It is common that upon turn-on of the supply voltage an oscillator begins to oscillate from the noise condition. To ensure a reliable and rapid start of the oscillation such an oscillator can also receive a starting sig-nal at a predetermined frequency. When this frequency is se-lected in the vicinity of he desired operating frequency the oscillation commences particularly rapidly. In the case of sev-eral possible resonances, too, the oscillation can take place l8 PCTfDE 98100512 at the desired resonance frequency when the starting signal is determined. If in such a case the oscillator started to oscil -late from the noise condition it may be that the power oscilla-tor also starts to oscillate to undesirable resonance frequen-cies.
In another expedient embodiment of the invention a further ana-lyser unit is provided which uses the operating frequency of the circuit as such for determining the spacing between the parts movable relative to each other. With the operating fre-quency varying as a function of the mutually mobile elements in the case of an inductive transmission the corresponding varia-tion of the distance can be easily determined on the basis of the operating frequency.
Brief description of the draKinQs The invention will be described in more details in the follow-ing with reference to the drawing wherein:
Figs. lato lc show the fundamental structure of inventive de-vices for non-contact transmission of electrical sig-nals and/or energy;
Fig. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention which comprises a capacitive coupling system;
Fig. 3 shows a variant of the embodiment illustrated in Fig.
2, which comprises a balanced system with shielding;
Fig. 4 is a view of a second embodiment with an inductive coupling system;
Fig. 5 illustrates an inventive device on a rotary trans-former;
Figs. 6a and 6b show a comparison between a prior art device and an inventive device in differential signal transmis-sion;
Figs. 7aand b are illustrations for explanation of the low-pass characteristic; and Figs. 8to 10 illustrate various examples of resonance cou-pling.
Description of embodiments In the following figures the same reference numerals have been used to denote identical elements or elements producing the same effects so that partly a repeated discussion may be omit-ted here.
Figs. la to lc show various embodiments of the inventive device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals and/or en-ergy, with the transmitter only being represented in the Fig-ures, rather than the receiver as well.
A signal source S is connected via a conductor structure 2 to coupler elements C or L, respectively, and are furthermore ter-minated by a surge impedance Zo in a manner free from reflec-tion. When a unit of the inventive structure is used as re-ceiver the transmitted signal is tapped at the position of the signal source S. The arrangements illustrated here present a symmetrical or balanced configuration because here a particu-larly expedient embodiment is involved. Unbalanced or non-sym-metrical embodiments are, of course, conceivable as well.
Fig. la shows an example of capacitive coupling; in this case flat conducting elements C, which induce the capacitive cou-pling, are connected to a continuous conductor 2 via a branch line or directly as in the embodiment illustrated here.
The coupler means 4 is designed here as a balanced coupler means which surrounds the printed circuit board 1 in a U-shaped configuration, on which the conductor structures and the cou-pler means are arranged. Furthermore, a shielding 6 is provided to surround the entire arrangement. The carrier 1, which may be a printed circuit board again, is fastened on the shield 6 by means of isolators 5 and 15.
Figure 4 is a view of a second embodiment of the invention wherein an inductive coupling is realised. On a carrier 1, which may also be provided with an electrically conductive layer on the rear side, a conductor structure 2 is provided, too, which connects inductive coupler elements 3a to 3c. The coupler elements 3a to 3c are configured here in the manner of a conductor loop. The reference numeral 4 denotes again a cou-pler means of the conventional type.
The inventive device of which an exemplary description has been given above with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 presents a number of advantages as will be explained in more details below, with reference being made to Figs. 5 to 7.
Fig. 5 shows an embodiment wherein the inventive device is so configured that it may be mounted on a rotary transformer, for instance. The conductor structure 2 having the inventive design with capacitive elements 3 (and/or inductive elements) may be made of a plane film or foil or the printed circuit board 1 in which slots are produced so as to allow for bending to small radii. This were impossible with a strip line as it is common in prior art.
Moreover, the inventive device presents the advantage that with a bent arrangement and with a differential signal coupling only slightly different line lengths are obtained which lead to dif-ferences in delay times and hence in signal noise and undesir-able radiation. The inventive device is thus particularly well suitable for the transmission of differential signals, which entails the further advantage that the radiation to the outside is minimised due to the fields in the outside space which com-pensate each other practically almost completely.
Fig. 6 shows a comparison between conventional strip lines SL
designed as differential structure (figure section a) and an inventive device (figure section b).
As becomes apparent from Figures 6a and 6b the lines 2 and 12 with coupler elements 3 and 13 are disposed very close to each other in the case of an inventive device so that the difference of their radii rl and rZis very small and hence the difference in delay times becomes comparatively great.
Fig. 7a shows a simplified electrical equivalent circuit dia-gram of an inventive device. As is shown in Fig. 7a, the inven-tive device presents a low-pass characteristic. Thus the inven-tive device entails the advantage of a high resistance to noise because any noise above the threshold frequency will not be passed on and can hence neither be received nor emitted.
Fig. 7b is an exemplary illustration of the computed frequency response of an inventive device, wherein the frequency is plot-ted (in MHz) along the abscissa and the received signal (in V) is plotted on the ordinate. As is apparent here the inventive device presents a practically constant frequency response be-tween 1 MHz and almost 300 MHz, which steeply drops to "zero"
at roughly 300 MHz in the illustrated embodiment. Threshold frequencies other than 300 MHz - be they higher or lower - can, of course, be implemented as well.
Fig. 8 is an illustration of an inventive arrangement with resonance coupling, which consists of an inductive or capaci-tive coupler element 83, respectively, which supplies a con-sumer 84. This coupler element is supplemented with at least one dummy element 82 to form a structure able to resonate. The signalling means 85 generates a regenerative coupling signal from resonance currents or voltages at the coupler element or at the supplementing dummy elements, which signal has such an amplitude and such a phase that the switching or amplifying element 81, together with the dummy elements 82 and 83 joining it, satisfies the condition of oscillation.
Fig. 9 is an exemplary illustration of an arrangement in corre-spondence with the invention for the case of a capacitive transmission means. The capacitive coupler element 93 supplies the consumer 94. It is supplemented by the inductor 92 for forming a structure capable of resonating. In this case the signalling means consists of a current meter resistor 95 which transmits a signal proportional to the series resonance current to the switching or amplifying component 91 by inductance and capacitance.
Fig. 10 shows an example of a particularly simple embodiment of an inventive system in the case of parallel resonance on an in-ductive coupler element. In this case the inductive coupler element 103 supplies a consumer 104. The inductor is supple-mented by the capacitor 102 so as to form a parallel resonance circuit. This signalling means consists here of a voltage di-vider with the two resistors 105 and 106, which taps a prede-termined share of the parallel resonance voltage by inductance and capacitance and passes them on to the switching or amplify-ing component, respectively.
The present invention has so far been described by exemplary embodiments without any restriction of the general inventive idea and general applicability. In particular, it is possible to employ the invention not only for rotary transformers such as in computer tomographs, radar towers etc. but also for transformers adapted for linear movement such as those required on cranes etc. Moreover, the invention may be used in trans-formers performing a composite movement.
Claims (36)
1. A device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals or energy between at least two parts mobile relative to each other, wherein a plurality of defined electromagnetic coupler elements is provided on the parts between which signals or energy is to be communicated, with the near field of these coupler elements causing the non-contact transmission, wherein each of said coupler elements, which are provided on at least one part, comprises at least one resonator consisting of a single element able to resonate per se and independently of the other coupler elements, which has a resonance frequency approximately equal to the frequency of the signals to be transmitted, and wherein the individual resonators are sequentially connected to each other via line which is terminated in a manner free from reflection.
2. The device according to Claim 1, wherein said resonator or resonators is/are resonating cavities, line resonators, dielectric, ferromagnetic or piezoelectric resonators.
3. The device for non-contact transmission of electrical signals or energy between at least two parts adapted to be moved relative to each other, wherein a plurality of defined electromagnetic coupler elements is provided on the parts between which signals or energy are to be transmitted, with the near field of said coupler elements causing the non-contact transmission, wherein said coupler elements on at least one part form a conductor structure configured as cascade circuit which is terminated in a manner free from reflection, and wherein each coupler element, independently of the other coupler elements, is a resonance system having a resonance frequency higher than the highest frequency of the wideband signals to be transmitted.
4. The device according to Claim 3, wherein the system formed by said coupler elements presents a low-pass characteristic.
5. The device according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein said conductor structure in its entirety is not capable of resonating.
6. The device according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein each coupler element able to resonate consists of an element including at least one component producing an inductive and capacitive effect, and wherein the joining coupler element taps the voltage or the current, respectively, on at least one dummy element of the preceding coupler element as input signal.
7. The device according to Claim 6, wherein each coupler element is composed of at least one, preferably a single, inductor and at least one capacitor.
8. The device according to Claim 7, wherein the individual inductors of the various coupler elements of one part are connected in series.
9. The device according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein a continuous line forms the individual inductors of the respective coupler elements.
10. The device according to Claim 9, wherein the capacitors are configured as flat conducting elements which are connected to said continuous line via branch lines or are directly joined to the line laterally.
11. The device according to Claim 10, wherein flat conducting elements are provided on either side of said continuous line.
12. The device according to any one of Claims 6 to 11, wherein said inductors or capacitors are configured as structures of a printed circuit board.
13. The device according to Claim 12, wherein said printed circuit board is a flexible board.
14. The device according to Claim 13, wherein said printed circuit board is provided with slots.
15. The device according to any one of Claims 6 to 14, wherein said inductors or capacitors are discrete elements.
16. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, wherein several coupler elements tuned to different frequency ranges are disposed in a close three- dimensional relationship such that a coupler structure is achieved which is tuned to these frequency ranges.
17. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 16, wherein said structure is symmetrical.
18. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 17, wherein conductor structures with a ground surface, capacitors or inductors are provided on either side of a printed circuit board.
19. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 18, wherein said coupler elements are configured as differential coupler elements, and wherein a differential signal is applied to said coupler elements.
20. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 19, wherein coupler elements able to resonate and matched with each other are provided on all parts.
21. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 20, wherein coupler elements able to resonate are provided on one part, and wherein conventional transmitters or receivers are provided as coupler elements on the other parts.
22. The device according to Claim 21, wherein said transmitters or receivers, respectively, comprise coils, ferrite cores or capacitors.
23. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 22, wherein line systems which serve to pass on the transmitted signals or the energy are shielded and thus de-coupled from said coupler elements.
24. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 23, wherein at least one activator unit is provided which activates the respective coupler element only when the coupler elements of one of said parts are approaching.
25. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 24, wherein said coupler elements are so designed that they adjust themselves in terms of their electrical characteristics to their operating point only by the dielectric or magnetic characteristics of an approaching coupler element.
26. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 25, wherein the coupling of said coupler elements is performed by additional active or passive devices such as amplifiers or semiconductor switches.
27. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 26, wherein said coupler elements are shielded from the environment by a shield made of an electrically conductive material.
28. The device according to any of the Claims 1 to 27, wherein said coupler elements are supplied by a switching or amplifying element.
29. The device according to Claim 28, wherein an additional signaling means is provided which generates a regenerative coupling signal for said switching or amplifying element, on the basis of voltages and currents of the resonant elements, such that oscillation will occur on at least one resonance frequency.
30. The device according to Claim 29, wherein said signaling means is so configured that it couples out one magnitude proportional to one part of a series resonance current.
31. The device according to Claim 29, wherein said signaling means is so designed that it couples out one magnitude proportional to one part of a parallel resonance voltage.
32. The device according to Claim 29, wherein in the case of several resonances, said signaling means is so designed that it couples out a combined signal consisting of a magnitude proportional to a series resonance current and proportional to a parallel resonance voltage.
33. The device according to any one of Claims 29 to 32, wherein an additional secondary oscillator is provided to facilitate the commencement of the oscillation of the circuit.
34. The device according to any one of Claims 29 to 33, wherein an analyser means is provided which determines the operating frequency of the system and derives therefrom a signal in correspondence with the size of the spacing of said units adapted to be moved relative to each other.
35. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 34, wherein said parts adapted to be moved relative to each other perform a rotating movement.
36. The device according to any one of Claims 1 to 35, wherein said parts adapted to be moved relative to each other perform a translational movement.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19700110A DE19700110A1 (en) | 1997-01-03 | 1997-01-03 | Contactless electrical energy and signal transmission device |
| DE19700110.6 | 1997-01-03 | ||
| DE19701357.0 | 1997-01-16 | ||
| DE19701357A DE19701357C2 (en) | 1997-01-16 | 1997-01-16 | Device for the contactless transmission of energy between mutually movable parts |
| PCT/DE1998/000512 WO1998029919A1 (en) | 1997-01-03 | 1998-01-05 | Device for contactless transmission of electrical signals and/or energy |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2276338A1 CA2276338A1 (en) | 1998-07-09 |
| CA2276338C true CA2276338C (en) | 2008-07-29 |
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ID=26032951
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002276338A Expired - Lifetime CA2276338C (en) | 1997-01-03 | 1998-01-05 | Device for contactless transmission of electrical signals and/or energy |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US6956450B1 (en) |
| EP (2) | EP1337001B1 (en) |
| JP (2) | JP2001507518A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1253960C (en) |
| AT (2) | ATE403240T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU6609798A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9806843A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2276338C (en) |
| DE (2) | DE59814261D1 (en) |
| RU (1) | RU2192099C2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1998029919A1 (en) |
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| RU210384U1 (en) * | 2021-08-09 | 2022-04-14 | Закрытое акционерное общество Научно-производственный центр Фирма "НЕЛК" | NETWORK SUPPRESSION FILTER |
| CN113921258B (en) * | 2021-09-16 | 2022-11-11 | 浙江大学 | Connector based on hemispherical electromagnetic coupler and coil optimization method |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2092709B1 (en) * | 1970-06-10 | 1973-10-19 | Comp Generale Electricite | |
| DE2653209C3 (en) | 1976-11-23 | 1980-07-24 | Spinner-Gmbh Elektrotechnische Fabrik, 8000 Muenchen | Contactless coaxial rotary joint |
| JPS606582B2 (en) * | 1979-01-19 | 1985-02-19 | 株式会社日立国際電気 | Information signal transmission equipment |
| US4516097A (en) * | 1982-08-03 | 1985-05-07 | Ball Corporation | Apparatus and method for coupling r.f. energy through a mechanically rotatable joint |
| DE3331722A1 (en) | 1983-09-02 | 1985-03-21 | Philips Patentverwaltung Gmbh, 2000 Hamburg | Device for transmitting electric signals between parts moving in relation to each other |
| JPS61105902A (en) * | 1984-10-30 | 1986-05-24 | Sony Corp | Rotary coupler |
| JPH01212131A (en) | 1988-02-19 | 1989-08-25 | Nippon Syst Kenkyusho:Kk | Transmission device using shunt coil type coaxial coupler |
| DE4236340C2 (en) | 1992-10-28 | 1994-11-10 | Daimler Benz Ag | Arrangement for the inductive transmission of energy |
| DE4412958A1 (en) | 1994-04-17 | 1995-10-19 | Schwan Ulrich | Data transmission device |
| US5530424A (en) | 1994-09-16 | 1996-06-25 | General Electric Company | Apparatus and method for high data rate communication in a computerized tomography system |
| EP0707388B1 (en) * | 1994-10-12 | 2005-12-07 | Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. | Signal transmission device using a fixed and a rotatable body |
-
1998
- 1998-01-05 RU RU99116369/09A patent/RU2192099C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-01-05 CN CNB988016524A patent/CN1253960C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-05 BR BR9806843-1A patent/BR9806843A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1998-01-05 AT AT03006661T patent/ATE403240T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1998-01-05 CA CA002276338A patent/CA2276338C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-05 JP JP52955398A patent/JP2001507518A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-01-05 DE DE59814261T patent/DE59814261D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-05 EP EP03006661A patent/EP1337001B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-05 WO PCT/DE1998/000512 patent/WO1998029919A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1998-01-05 EP EP98907894A patent/EP1012899B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-05 US US09/331,226 patent/US6956450B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-05 DE DE59808483T patent/DE59808483D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-01-05 AU AU66097/98A patent/AU6609798A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-01-05 AT AT98907894T patent/ATE241216T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2007
- 2007-02-26 JP JP2007046214A patent/JP4241844B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US6956450B1 (en) | 2005-10-18 |
| JP2001507518A (en) | 2001-06-05 |
| EP1337001B1 (en) | 2008-07-30 |
| ATE241216T1 (en) | 2003-06-15 |
| BR9806843A (en) | 2000-03-14 |
| CN1253960C (en) | 2006-04-26 |
| EP1337001A1 (en) | 2003-08-20 |
| AU6609798A (en) | 1998-07-31 |
| CN1243608A (en) | 2000-02-02 |
| DE59814261D1 (en) | 2008-09-11 |
| JP4241844B2 (en) | 2009-03-18 |
| RU2192099C2 (en) | 2002-10-27 |
| JP2007243943A (en) | 2007-09-20 |
| WO1998029919A1 (en) | 1998-07-09 |
| CA2276338A1 (en) | 1998-07-09 |
| DE59808483D1 (en) | 2003-06-26 |
| EP1012899A1 (en) | 2000-06-28 |
| EP1012899B1 (en) | 2003-05-21 |
| ATE403240T1 (en) | 2008-08-15 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20180105 |